KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A team of scientists led by John All from Western Washington University flew to the Mount Everest region Wednesday to study how pollution has impacted the Himalayan mountains and glaciers that are melting due to global warming.

The team plans to spend the next two months in the region collecting samples and studying the ice, snow and vegetation.

In May, they will try to climb to the top of Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain, and its sister peak Mount Lhotse.